This is a presentation of the effects of auranofin (AF), a disease modifying anti rheumatic drug (DMARD) containing gold in its molecule, which is able to oral administration, on the treatment of cancer, based on a review article in 2021 [9].
I and colleagues have reported that AF (10 µM) inhibited the productions of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) [1-3] and nitric oxide (NO) [4], in the culture medium of rat peritoneal macrophage under inflammatory stimulation, which is concurrently lowered with levels of their producing enzymes and mRNAs, cyclooxygenase(COX)-2 and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) [5].  AF (1〜10 µM) strongly lowered the translocation of inflammation-related transcription factor, NF-κB into the nuclear fraction [6]. We also find that there is no change of the protein level of COX-1 [1] though the PGE₂ production is increased [2]. We had been discussed the increase or activation of cytosolic type of PGE synthase [7-9], which still could not be revealed.
AF as a DMARD over 40 years, have been replaced by biological pharmacies, and decreased and finished its sales in 2023. Many reports tried to applicate AF on the other diseases, because of its risk-managed properties.
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6 J Pharm Pharmacol. 2003;55:245-251
7 Yakugaku Zasshi. 2000;120:265-274.
8 Curr Drug Targets Inflamm Allergy. 2003;2:216-223
9 Int Immunopharmacol. 2021;101:108272